Knife and scissors sharpener



Feb. 15, 1966 LlzAK 3,234,823

KNIFE AND SCISSORS SHARPENER Filed May 28, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet l John F Lizak INVENTOR.

Feb. 15, J. F. L IZAK KNIFE AND SCISSORS SHARPENER Filed May 28, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 John F Liza/r INVENTOR.

Feb. 15, 1966 J. F. LIZAK 3,234,823

KNIFE AND SCISSORS SHARPENER Filed May 28, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. I5 Fig. /6

John E Liza/r INVENTOR,

Y W M-mm United States Patent ()fiiice 3,234,823 KNIFE AND SCISSORS SHARPENER John F. Lizak, 920 Clydesdale St., MeKeesport, Pa. Filed May 28, 1963, Ser. No. 283,763 16 Claims. (Cl. 76-86) This invention relates to a novel and useful knife and scissors sharpener and comprises an improvement over the knife and scissors sharpener disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,994,234.

The knife and scissors sharpener of the instant invention is designed in a manner whereby the fabrication and assembly thereof may be quickly and economically effected. In addition, the knife and scissors sharpener is constructed in a manner whereby the pair of sharpening elements thereof may be readily removed and replaced in different positions seven times giving a total of eight individual sets of cutting edges for sharpening knives and scissors.

The knife and scissors sharpener comprises a pair of plates which are disposed in superposed relation and are provided with confronting pockets with which registered slots formed in the plates are communicated. When the knife and scissors sharpener is assembled, the elongated sharpening members, which are rectangular in cross section, are disposed in superposed and crossed relation but it is to be noted that the blade receiving slot or slots formed in the plates are communicated with one end portion of each of the associated sharpening members whereby the four corner edges of each sharpening member may be utilized at two points spaced longitudinally there along for the purpose of sharpening knife and scissors blades.

In addition, three species of the s-harpeners disclosed herein are constructed in a manner whereby the sharpening members are supported for pivoting movement relative to each other in order that the angular relationship of the cutting members may be varied to sharpen different kinds of blades such as knife blades and scissors blades.

The main object of this invention is to provide a scissors sharpener for supporting a pair of elongated sharpening members which are substantially rectangular in cross section at angles relative to each other in a manner whereby a cutting blade may be drawn across the point of intersection of the two sharpening members for the purpose of sharpening the cutting edge of the cutting blade.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a scissors sharpener including supporting plates for the pair of cutting members which are constructed in a manner so as to be extremely economically manufactured.

Still another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a pair of mounting plates for the elongated sharpening members constructed in a manner so as to be capable of being interchangeable with each other and secured together in a manner to properly support the sharpening members without the use of non-integral portions of the plates for holding the plates in position relative to each other and therefore the sharpening members in their proper relationships.

Yet another object of this invention, in accordance with the preceding object, is to provide a pair of mounting plates for the sharpening members of the instant inven tion which will support the elongated sharpening members in a manner whereby they may be pivoted relative to each other so as to change the angular relationship of the sharpening members at their point of intersection.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a pair of mounting plates for the sharpening members of the instant invention constructed in a manner whereby 3,234,823 Patented Feb. 15, 1966 limits of oscillation of the plates relative to each other may be established to define two operative positions of the plates relative to each other in which the sharpening members are varied in angular relationship relative to each other.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pair of mounting plates for the sharpening members of the instant invention constructed in a manner whereby the plates may be selectively oscillated relative to each other beyond one of the aforementioned limit positions to a position from which the plates may be readily separated from each other.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a knife and scissors sharpener in accordance with the preceding objects which will readily conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long and relatively trouble free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantage-s which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had "to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of the knife and scissors sharpener of the instant invention shown being utilized to sharpen a conventional knife blade;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the knife and scissors sharpener of FIGURE 1 showing the manner in which it may be utilized to sharpen a scissors blade;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the knife and scissors sharpener with the mounting plates thereof swung to their normal positions for supporting the sharpening members relative to each other in a manner to sharpen a knife blade;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of the knife sharpener illustrated in FIGURES 1-5;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of knife sharpener which is similar in construction to the knife sharpener illustrated in FIGURES 1-6 but which includes mounting plates having opposing pocket-s formed therein for the reception of keys whereby the knife sharpener may also be used as a key case;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the knife sharpener illustrated in FIGURE 7 with the mounting plates thereof shown in the closed position;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially upon the plane indicated 'by the section line 99 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 102l0 of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 11 is an exploded perspective view of the modified form of knife sharpener illustrated in FIG- URES 7-10;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective View of a knife sharpener constructed in accordance with the present invention and provided with mounting flanges for removably supporting the knife sharpener from a horizontal supporting surface;

FIGURE 13 is a side elevational view of the knife sharpener illustrated in FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a side elevational view of a still further modified form of knife sharpener;

FIGURE 15 is a side elevational View of the knife sharpener illustrated in FIGURE 14 but with the mount- {J ing plates thereof rotated relative to each other in order to incline the sharpening members thereof relative to each other so as to be adapted to sharpen a scissors blade;

FIGURE 16 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line loiv of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 17 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line l7l7 of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 18 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 18l8 of FIGURE 14;

FIGURE l9 is a side elevational view of another modifled form of it fe sharpener constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 26 of FIGURE 19; and

FlGURE 21 is a further side elevational view of the knife sharpener illustrated in FIGURE 19 but with the mounting plates thereof shifted relative to each other so as to provide registry of one of the horizontal scissors blade receiving slots with one of the sharpening members whereby a scissors blade may be sharpened.

With regard now more specifically to the drawings and to FIGURES l-6 in particular there will be seen one form of the knife and scissors sharpener of the instant invention which is generally designated by the reference numeral lit). With attention directed now to FIGURE 6 of the drawings it will be seen that the knife and scissors sharpener 10 comprises a pair of identical mounting plates referred to in general by the reference numerals 12 and M. The mounting plates 12 and 14 each includes a substantially vertical slot 16 extending along its longitudinal centerline and a second slot 1% which is inclined relative to the slot 16 and is communicated with the latter. The slots 16 and 18 are each also communicated with a recess Zil defined by a laterally deflected portion 22 and in which an elongated sharpening member is snugly receivable, the sharpening members 24 each being gent;

erally rectangular in cross section and constructed of a hard substance such as carbide. Each of the plates I2 and 14 has an outline resembling a bowling pin and is provided with a laterally projecting abutment flange 26 which extends outwardly from the neck portion 2a. The heads 39 have knurled areas 32 on both side faces thereof whereby the head portions may be gripped between coacting fingers of a persons hand as illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and 2.

Each of the slots 16 includes a notched-out portion 34 Whose upstanding edge 35 is registrable with the lowermost edge 36 of the angulated slot 13 of the opposite plate as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

Each of the plates 12 and 1 3 includes an arcuate opening or slot 3% including one enlarged end portion 4a. In addition, each plate includes a laterally struck ear or projection 42 which is disposed on the circle which would be formed if the corresponding slot 38 were continuous.

When assembling the knife sharpener It the sharpening members 24 are first inserted in the recesses 26' and then one of the plates is reversed front to rear relative to the other and disposed in superposed relation relative to the other. The plates are then rotated relative to each other about the concentric centers of the circles of which he arcuate slots 33 comprise parts until each ear 42 is registered with the enlarged portion formed in the other plate. Then, the plates 12 and 14 may be laterally displaced into engagement with each other which will position the ears 4.2 in the enlarged portions 4%. Thereafter, the plates 12 and 14 may be rotated relative to each other until the plates directly overlie each other at which point the slots 16 will be disposed in registry.

- The abutments 26, when the plates 12 and 14 are dis posed in reversed front to rear and superposed relation, engage the opposite plates at their free end portions and therefore the heads 36 of the plates 12 and 14 must be spread apart until such time as the plates 12 and M are disposed in full registry with each other.

When it is desired to sharpen a knife blade, the knife blade 48 illustrated in FIGURE 1 of the drawings may be inserted through the slots 16 and drawn longitudinally across the intersecting portions of the sharpening members 24 which are registered with the lower ends of the slots 16. However, when it is desired to sharpen a scissors blade, the plates 12 and M are rotated to positions relative to each other such as those illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings whereupon the edges 35 are registered with the edges 36 and one of the slots 16 is registered with the other of the slots 18. In this position, the medial plane of the registered slots 16 and 18 is disposed less acutely relative to the sharpening member 24 supported by the plate 12 and thus will properly position the scissors blade 5% illustrated in FIGURE 2 of the drawings in proper position relative to that sharpening member in order that the proper beveled edge on the scissors blade 54? may be maintained and sharpened.

It will be noted that the abutment flanges 26 prevent rotation of the plates 12 and 14 relative to each other to a position in which the plates 12 and 14 may be readily laterally separated from each other. Accordingly, it will be virtualy impossible for the plates 12 and 14 to become accidentally disengaged from each other inasmuch as the interlocking portions of the plates 12 and 14 may not be disengaged from each other until such time as the head portions of the plates 12 and 14 have been spread apart and the plates have been rotated relative to each other in order to register the tabs or cars 42 with the enlarged portions 4-5 of the slots 38.

It will be noted that the plates 12 and 14 are identically formed and therefore that the manufacturing costs of these plates will be substantially reduced. Further, the plates 12 and i l are constructed in a manner whereby they may be readily stamped in one motion from sheet material whereby the manufacturing costs of the plates are still further reduced.

With reference now to FIGURES 7l1 of the drawings, there will be seen a modified form of knife sharpener generally referred to by the reference numeral 54 and which includes a pair of plates 56 and 58 which are very similar to the plates 112 and 14- with the exception that the plates 56 and 58 are not provided with slots corresponding to the slots 13 but only slots 60 corresponding to the slots 16. Therefore, it may be seen that the sharpener 54 may not be utilized to sharpen scissors blades although slots corresponding to slots 18 could be provided.

The plates 56 and 58 each includes a flattened portion in which the recesses 64, the arcuate slots or openings 56 and the ears or projections es corresponding to the recesses 2%, the arcuate slots or openings 38, and the ears or projections 42 respectively are formed. In addition, the sharpener 54 includes sharpening members which correspond to the sharpening members 24 and the plates 56 and 5% are removably secured together in the same manner in which the plates 12 and 14 are secured together.

The plates 55 and 53, however, include recessed portions '72 which open toward each other and define a closure for receiving a key 74 when the plates 56 and 58 are disposed in complete registry with each other as i1- lustrated in FiGURE 8 of the drawings. A suitable keyretaining clip '76 may be provided and secured through one of the appropriate openings 78 therefor formed in the recessed head portions 89 of the plates 56 and 58.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the operation of the sharpener 54 is substantially identical to that of the sharpener 10 with the exception that the sharpener S4 is constructed so as to also comprise a key case and it does not include abutments corresponding to abutments 26 and slots corresponding to the slots 1%.

With the attention now directed to FIGURES 12 and 13 of the drawings there will be seen a still further modified form of knife sharpener generally referred to by the reference numeral 84 which includes a pair of plates 86 and 88 which may be said to be similar to the flattened portions 60 of the sharpener 54. However, the plates 86 and 88 are provided with laterally directed flanges 90 which are suitably apertured and may be secured to any suitable horizontal supporting surface 92 by means of fasteners 94. As previously set forth, the contacting portions of the plates 86 and 88 may be said to be similar to the flattened portions 62 of the plates 56 and 58 and accordingly, it will be noted that the plates 86 and 88 include registered notches 96 in lieu of the slots 60. Otherwise, the sharpener 84 is substantially identical to the sharpener 54 with the exception that it is provided with the mounting flanges 90 and does not include the recessed upper portions of the plates 56 and 58.

With attention now directed to FIGURES 14 through 18, there will be seen a modification generally referred to by the reference numeral 100 and which is constructed in a manner very similar to the manner in which the plates 12 and 14 of the sharpener are constructed. The sharpener 100 includes a pair of mounting plates generally referred to by the reference numerals 102 and 104 which are very similar in construction to the mounting plates 12 and 14 with the exception that the abutments 26 have been replaced by the detents 106 and 108. In addition, the knurled surfaces 110 are formed on the body portion in lieu of the head portion and the slots 16 and 18 have been replaced by registered notches 112 and 114 formed in the plates 102 and 104 respectively. The notches 112 and 114 are slightly inclined relative to the longitudinal axes of the plates 102 and 104 and the edges 116 thereof define a narrow notch for receiving a knife blade while the edges 118 thereof are each adapted to form a guide for properly inclining a scissors blade 120 relative to one of the sharpening members 122.

The detents 106 and 108 are adapted to interlockingly engage with each other as most clearly shown in FIGURES 14 and 18 of the drawings to retain the plates 102 and 104 in complete superposed registry with each other. In addition, movement of the plates 102 and 104 between the positions illustrated in FIGURES 14 and of the drawings will enable the sharpener 100 to be selectively utilized in sharpening both knife and scissors blades.

With attention now directed to FIGURES 19-21 of the drawings there will be seen a still further modified form of knife and scissors sharpener generally referred to by the reference numenal 126. The knife and scissors sharpener 126 also includes a pair of identical plates 128 and 130 and each plate 128 and 130 is provided with a notch 132 which opens through one peripheral edge portion 134 and is communicated with a scissors slot 136 at its inner end. Each of the plates also includes a second scissors slot 138 disposed on the other side of and not in communication with the corresponding notch 132.

'Each of the plates 128 and 130 includes a laterally directed ear or projection 140 which is received in a corresponding slot or opening 142 formed in the other plate and including a pair of enlarged end portions 144 and 146. In addition, each of the plates 128 and 130 includes a thumb recess 148 and two pair of laterally struck tabs which are outwardly directed at their free ends toward the same side of the corresponding plate. Accordingly, when the plates 128 and 130 are reversed front-to-rear relative to each other and interconnected by means of the tabs 140 received in the slots 142, the laterally struck tabs 150 and 152 are engageable with corresponding end edges of the other plate and receivable in the openings formed by the tabs struck from the other plate. Therefore, when the plates 128 and 130 are fully superposed as illustrated in FIGURE 19 of the drawings the tabs 150 and 152 of the plate 130 and which open in the same direction and toward the plate 128 are received in the openings formed by the tabs 152 and 150 6 respectively formed in the plate 128. It would therefore also follow that the tabs 150 and 152 formed on the plate 128 are also received in the openings formed by the tabs 150 and 152 respectively on the plates 130.

When it is desired to shift the plates relative to each other to the positions illustrated in FIGURE 21 of the drawings, the end portions of the plates 128 and are urged away from each other to withdraw the tabs and 152 from the openings formed by the corresponding tabs 152 and 150 in the other plate. Then, the plates 128 and 130 may be shifted relative to each other to the position illustrated in FIGURE 21 of the drawings whereby the opening 136 of the plate 130 will be registered with the opening 138 of the plate 128 and these openings will be communicated with the inner end of the notch 132 formed in the plate 130 and the sharpenin-g member 156 supported at the inner end of the notch 132 formed in the plate 130.

From the foregoing it may be readily seen that each of the sharpeners disclosed herein includes a pair of identical mounting plates which are removably interconnected by means of slots and tab portions formed in and carried by the respective plates. Therefore, the need for additional fasteners in order to properly support the sharpening members in their proper relationship is elimina-ted. In addition, each of the sharpeners utilizes a pair of similar sharpening members which may be readily reversed end-to-end in their respective recesses, reversed fnont-to-rear in their respective recesses, and also similarly positioned and reversed in position within the other recess. Therefore, each edge portion of each sharpening member may have the blade which is to be sharpened engaged with two positions spaced longitudinally thereof.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A sharpener comprising a pair of plates including essentially flat portions having recesses formed therein and opening laterally outwardly of corresponding side surfaces of said fiat portions, said flat portions having similar openings formed therein and projections thereon and further having similar blade receiving slots formed therein communicating with said recesses, said plates being disposed in superposed and reversed 'front-to-rear relation with said side surfaces opposing each other and the projections of each plate extending through the openings of the other plate and coacting with the portions of said other plate defining said openings to interconnect said plates for movement relative to each other in planes generally paralleling said plates and between first positions with said blade receiving slots registered and with said plates locked against later movement away from each other and second positions with said plates freely laterally separable relative to each other, and sharpening members disposed in said recesses and including overlapped portions With which said slots are registered.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said coacting openings and projections interconnect said plates for movement relative to each other about an axis disposed substantially normal to said flat portions.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said projections and openings include means defining limit positions of movement of said plates relative to each other toward said first and second positions.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said coacting openings and projections include means interconnecting said plates for movement relative to each other about an axis disposed substantially normal to said flat portions and closely adjacent the point of intersection of said slots and sharpening members.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said coacting openings and projections include means interconnecting said plates for movement relative to each other about an axis disposed substantially normal to said flat portions, said flat portions each having one additional slot formed therein registered with the corresponding opening, said first mentioned slots being registered with each other when said plates are rotated to one position relative to each other and the additional slots being registered with each other when said plates are rotated to another position relative to each other.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the flat portions of said plates are identical and said slots lie upon and extend along a center axis of the corresponding plate.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said recesses are elongated and their longitudinal axes extend diagonally across said slots.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said sharpening members are elongated and are snugly received in said recesses.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said coacting openings and projections include means securing each of said plates together for movement relative to each other about an axis disposed substantially normal to said flat portions, said plates also including second slots disposed at acute angles relative to the firs-t mentioned slots and also communicated with said recesses, said plates being rotatable relative to each other between a first position with said first mentioned slots registered and a second position with one of the second slots registered with the first mentioned slot of the other plate.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said plates include coacting abutment means engageable with each other to establish a false limit of rotation of one of said plates relative to the other in one direction.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein the first mentioned slots are registered with each other when said one plate is rotated to its false limit position in said one direction relative to the other plate.

12. The combination of claim -11 wherein said coacting abutment means includes laterally projecting abutment portions which may be shifted out of position for registry and engagement with each other by laterally deflecting the corresponding portions of said plates away from each other whereby said false limit position of movement of said one plate may be passed to move said one plate to said other limit position enabling said plates to then be separated.

13. A sharpener comprising a pair of identical plates including centrally fiat portions having recesses formed therein and opening laterally outwardly of corresponding side surfaces of said fiat portions, said fiat portions having similar openings formed therein and projections thereon and further having similar blade receiving slots formed therein communicating with said recesses, said plates being disposed in superposed and reversed front-to-rear relation with said side surfaces opposing each other and with the projections of each plate extending through the openings of the other plate and coacting with the portions of said other plate defining said openings to interconnect said plates for movement relative to each other in planes generally paralleling said plates and between first positions with said blade-receiving slots registered and with said plates locked against lateral movement away from each other and second positions with said plates freely laterally separable relative to each other, and sharpening members disposed in said recesses and including overlapped portions with which said slots are registered.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said projections and openings interconnecting said plates for rectilinear movement relative to each other.

15. The combination of claim 13 wherein said projections are integral with said plates and project laterally outwardly therefrom.

16. The combination of claim 13 wherein said plates include laterally directed mounting flanges projecting substantially normal to the corresponding plates and outwardly of the side surface thereof remote from said corresponding side surfaces and adapted to be secured to a suitable supporting surface for said sharpener.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,994,234 8/1961 Lizak 76-86 GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, JR., Primary Examiner. 

1. A SHARPENER COMPRISING A PAIR OF PLATES INCLUDING ESSENTIALLY FLAT PORTIONS HAVING RECESSES FORMED THEREIN AND OPENING LATERALLY OUTWARDLY OF CORRESPONDING SIDE SURFACES OF SAID FLAT PORTIONS, SAID FLAT PORTIONS HAVING SIMILAR OPENINGS FORMED THEREIN AND PROJECTIONS THEREON AND FURTHER HAVING SIMILAR BLADE RECEIVING SLOTS FORMED THEREIN COMMUNICATING WITH SAID RECESSES, SAID PLATES BEING DISPOSED IN SUPERPOSED AND REVERSED FRONT-TO-REAR RELATION WITH SAID SIDE SURFACES OPPOSING EACH OTHER AND THE PROJECTIONS OF EACH PLATE EXTENDING THROUGH THE OPENINGS OF THE OTHER PLATE AND COACTING WITH THE PORTIONS OF SAID OTHER PLATE DEFINING SAID OPENINGS TO INTERCONNECT SAID PLATES FOR MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER IN PLANES GENERALLY PARALLELING SAID PLATES AND BETWEEN FIRST POSIFIGA-01 TIONS WITH SAID BLADE RECEIVING SLOTS REGISTERED AND WITH SAID PLATES LOCKED AGAINST LATER MOVEMENT AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AND SECOND POSITIONS WITH SAID PLATES FREELY LATERALLY SEPARABLE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, AND SHARPENING MEMBERS DISPOSED IN SAID RECESSES AND INCLUDING OVERLAPPED PORTIONS WITH WHICH SAID SLOTS ARE REGISTERED. 